Family, Life Course, and Society Commons^™

Do What You Love, Cathy E. Minehan

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article is about the author’s career and how it has taken her to many places in her life and beyond. She starts on her first day of training in New York and ends up with her as President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. She describes balancing her life with her career and the rewards and difficulties of it all.

Walking The Maternal Tightrope: Work And Family In America, Roxanne A. Donovan, Andrew L. Pieper, Allison N. Ponce

New England Journal of Public Policy

In the last few decades, an unprecedented number of women with children have entered the U.S. workforce. The ability to negotiate the roles of parent and employee is important to the health and financial well-being of these women and their families, but institutional and social barriers impede the process. Using the empirical and theoretical literature on women and work, this article examines these barriers. The authors address the impact of cultural ideals, psychological processes, and public policy on the maternal work-family balance. Several changes that would help create an atmosphere supportive of balance are explored, including increased support for shared …

Life Balance: Can We Have It All?, Beth Brykman

New England Journal of Public Policy

Women today struggle to make difficult choices involving their children and their careers. Can they achieve that elusive sense of life balance? Beth Brykman taps her personal experience and her professional marketing skills to craft this well-researched issue. Having been a full-time employed, parttime employed, and a stay-at-home mom, Brykman interviewed more than one hundred mothers, some employed, some not, from many walks of life, letting the women speak for themselves about the reality of their lives and satisfaction with the paths they selected. This insightful discussion of contemporary motherhood captures the many challenges facing women, offering the pro’s and …

A Workplace Study: Follow-Up Research Report, Deena Mandell, Carol A. Stalker, Cheryl Harvey, Margriet Wright, Karen Frensch

Partnerships for Children and Families Project

In response to the Partnerships for Children and Families Project's study of Canadian child welfare workers that unexpectedly found participants scoring high on a measure of emotional exhaustion (burnout), and at the same time, high on overall job satisfaction, a qualitative study of 25 child welfare workers' experience of emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction was undertaken. This analysis was guided by several key questions including what are the personal qualities, workplace and organizational context, and coping skills that employees identify as being a part of their experiences of emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction?

Family Income And Attitudes Toward Older People In China: Comparison Of Two Age Cohorts, Xiaolin Xie, Yan Ruth Xia, Xiaofan Liu

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Three hundred and five traditional college students and 159 baby boomers (40–55 years old) in China participated in the study with Kogan’s Attitude toward Old People [Kogan (1961) Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 62(1), 44–54] being used. Results from ANOVA showed overall, baby boomers held more positive attitudes toward older people than college students. There was a significant interaction effect between cohorts and family income; that is, the lower family income group in both samples did not differ significantly from each other, it was in the higher family income group that difference was revealed. Baby Boomers in the …

L’Appel Des Arènes: A Postcolonial Development Of The Buildungsroman, Médoune Guèye

The Coastal Review

Despite the fact that many critics consider the Buildungsroman obsolete, the genre is still alive. Many African writers have revised the classical Buildungsroman in order to underscore the conflict of cultures and the complex subjectivities of their characters. By analyzing the discourse on identity in L’Appel des arènes, we understand how Aminata Sow Fall recreates the modalities of enunciation found in African traditional literature while structuringL’Appel des arènes with generic patterns from the Buildungsroman.

Public Displays Of Emotion Today: Changing Forms Of Memorializing Death And Disaster, E. Doyle Mccarthy

Sociology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Attrition Bias, Richard B. Miller, Cody S. Hollist

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Attrition bias is one of the major threats to multiwave studies, and it can bias the sample in two ways. First, attrition bias can affect the external validity of the study. If some groups of people drop out of the study more frequently than others, the subsequent longitudinal sample no longer resembles the original sample in the study. As a result, the remaining sample is not generalizable to the original population that was sampled. For example, a longitudinal sample examining the grieving process of women following the death of a spouse may fail to retain those participants who have become …

Is Marriage Education Effective? A Meta-Analytic Review Of Marriage Education Programs, Elizabeth Brinton Fawcett

Theses and Dissertations

In the past few decades, several meta-analytic studies have attempted to answer the question: Is marriage education effective (Carroll & Doherty, 2003; Halford, Markman, Kline & Stanley, 2003; Reardon-Anderson, Stagner, Macomber, & Murray, 2004)? However, previous meta-analytic studies have been somewhat limited in their conclusions because they have reviewed a narrow portion of the marriage education spectrum (e.g. premarital education only, Carroll & Doherty, 2003), because they focused only on one particular program (e.g, Couples Communication, Butler & Wampler, 1999), because they failed to differentiate marital therapy from marital education programs (Reardon-Anderson et al., 2005), or because they excluded much …

The Role Of Early Childhood Care And Education: An Anti-Poverty Perspective, Noirin Hayes

Reports

No abstract provided.

Need For Social Policy To Recognise That People Are Excluded When They Cannot Afford To Give Their Children A Holiday, Bernadette Quinn

Articles

This research investigated how access to an annual holiday can benefit children living in poverty and their families. It studied children who had the opportunity to avail of a child-centred, structured group holiday provided by three NGOs. Study participants were drawn from a cross-section of disadvantaged areas in Dublin, comprising two inner-city and four suburban areas. Data collection involved 75 children and 35 guardians in the first stage, and 27 children and 16 guardians in subsequent stages. In total, 16 families participated in all stages of the research process, which used qualitative methods, including focus groups, in-depth interviews and observation. …

Providers’ Perspectives On Troublesome Overusers Of Medical Services, Richard Bischoff, Cody S. Hollist, Joellen Patterson, Lee Williams, Layne Prest, Matthew D. Barkdull

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to better understand providers’ perspectives of and experiences with frequent users of medical services. Focus group interviews were con¬ducted with physicians in San Diego, California, and Omaha, Nebraska. Indicators of problematic patient overuse of medical services were identified as well as the common physician experience of overuse that is troublesome and problematic. Qualitative data analysis revealed that physicians did not consider patient overuse, by itself, to be problematic. Overuse became problematic and troublesome when patient behavior violated the physician-patient relationship of trust. All participants described a distinct negative physiological reaction to these patients.

Early Familial Misogyny: Its Impact On Attachment Security And Later Caregiving Behaviors, Debra Dee Kirtland

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to look at the impact of early misogynistic treatment of females on subsequent attachment security and the quality of the later caregiving of their own children. A Misogyny Scale was created for use in this study.

Relationship Of Attachment Security To Shame In Young Adults, Scott Edward Donovan

Theses Digitization Project

Examines the relationship between early maternal attachment security and shame in young adults. The findings of this study have significant implications for parenting, including providing support for the importance of a secure relationship between mother and child and the developmental consequences of warm and secure caregiving experiences for their child.

Voices From The Street: Comics For Young Men On Masculinity, Sexuality And Hiv—An Evidence-Based Communication Initiative, Vijaya Nidadavolu, Leena Joshi, Vinita Nathani, Atanu Ghosh, Isidore Phillips

HIV and AIDS

HIV infection is spreading rapidly among young people in India. With more than 30 percent of new infections in 2006 in the 15–29-year age group, the need to address the vulnerability of this population subgroup is pressing. Existing literature shows that young men subscribe to norms of masculinity that lead to risky behavior patterns. Misinformation about HIV coupled with a low perception of risk to themselves make young men even more vulnerable. To bring about social and attitude change in the long-term, communication strategies that are evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and designed in consultation with target audiences are needed. The Population …

Children With Developmental Disabilities : Considering Positive Impact On The Family System, Tracie L. Self

Graduate Research Papers

Families who have at least one child with a developmental disability face challenges unique to their situation. With reported incidents of developmental disabilities on the rise, research parameters are being expanded to give more complete consideration of growing family needs. While the historical treatment of these families has often been negative, current research trends have begun to consider positive impact on families.

Positive impact includes areas such as quality of life, the child as a source of happiness, and an overall increase in personal family strength. The trend towards positivism is beginning to be reflected in theoretical understanding and in …

Finding Nina, Inge Meyer

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

This paper provides an account of the unique cultural experience of observing an Aboriginal infant within her extended family system while overcoming the challenges of separation from the seminar group through geographical distance. Underpinning the entire process were multiple layers of transgenerational and personal loss. There were many poignant moments in this rich observational experience.

Reaching Truckers In Brazil With Non-Stigmatizing And Effective Hiv/Sti Services, Magda Chinaglia, Sheri A. Lippman, Julie Pulerwitz, Maeve De Mello, Rick Homan, Juan Diaz

HIV and AIDS

A study conducted by the Population Council in 2001 found that truckers crossing Brazil’s southern border had easy access to commercial sex and extremely limited access to health services, condoms, HIV testing and counseling, and HIV/STI prevention messages. In response, the Population Council’s Horizons Program conducted an intervention study from 2002 to 2005. The study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of providing a range of health services to truckers at a health post inside a customs station, where truckers wait anywhere from one day to a week for documents and cargo to clear customs. As noted in this brief, …

Preparedness Of Kenyan Health Workers To Deliver Hiv/Aids Services, National Aids And Std Control Programme, Ministry Of Health Kenya, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, Horizons Program

HIV and AIDS

Most Kenyan adults do not know their HIV status. Patients who present to a health facility can learn their status as part of a diagnostic assessment, enabling health-care personnel to provide a more accurate clinical evaluation and accelerate access to comprehensive care. This is particularly relevant in Kenya because up to 60 percent of all medical ward hospital beds are occupied by HIV-infected patients. Therefore provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling, which includes diagnostic testing and counseling (DTC), provides an opportunity to interrupt the cycle of HIV transmission to patients’ partners and children. In 2004, the Kenya Ministry of Health launched …

Impact Of Antiretroviral Therapy On Household Economics: Findings From Mombasa, Kenya, Rick Homan, Desai Jaikishan, Paul Munyao, Avina Sarna, Scott Geibel

HIV and AIDS

While the clinical impact of receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) on individuals living with HIV is well documented, less is known about how the receipt of ART affects household economics. This analysis examined the direct and indirect effects of receiving ART on household economics. A direct effect is reduced spending on health services as a result of the improved health status of the household member on ART. The potential indirect effects include increased labor-force participation by the household member on ART, a change in how other household members spend their time (working or in school), and a shift in composition of …

Sexual Risk Behaviors Of Hiv-Positive Persons Receiving Art In Mombasa, Kenya: Longitudinal Study Findings, Stanley Luchters, Avina Sarna, Scott Geibel, Matthew F. Chersich, Paul Munyao, Susan Kaai, Kishorchandra N. Mandaliya, Naomi Rutenberg, Marleen Temmerman

HIV and AIDS

As a result of the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in dramatically decreasing morbidity and mortality due to HIV, many HIV-infected individuals are now living longer, healthier, and more sexually active lives. However, unprotected sex by people living with HIV is an area of concern because of the risk of transmission to sero-discordant partners and reinfection with new, drug-resistant viral strains. There is evidence to suggest that some sero-positive individuals continue to engage in unprotected sex that places others at risk for infection and places themselves at risk for contracting secondary infections. To learn more about the impact of ART …

Changes In Stigma Among A Cohort Of People On Antiretroviral Therapy: Findings From Mombasa, Kenya, Susan Kaai, Avina Sarna, Stanley Luchters, Scott Geibel, Paul Munyao, Kishorchandra N. Mandaliya, Khadija Shikely, Marleen Temmerman, Naomi Rutenberg

HIV and AIDS

Stigma has been a reality in the lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV) since the inception of the AIDS epidemic, and it can have profound implications for health, psychosocial well-being, and utilization of health services. In the industrialized world, the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a subsequent change in perception of AIDS as a chronic manageable disease has coincided with a decrease in stigma and discrimination directed toward PLHIV. However, little is known in developing countries about whether perceptions and experiences of stigma among PLHIV have changed following increased access to ART. The Horizons Program and the International …

Promoting Adherence Through A Directly Administered Antiretroviral Therapy Strategy In Mombasa, Kenya, Avina Sarna, Stanley Luchters, Scott Geibel, Matthew F. Chersich, Paul Munyao, Rick Homan, Susan Kaai, Kishorchandra N. Mandaliya, Marleen Temmerman, Naomi Rutenberg

HIV and AIDS

A principal concern of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs is the ability of clients to maintain a high level of adherence to medication. Based on formative research conducted with HIV-infected clients and health workers in Mombasa, Kenya, and lessons learned from directly observed therapy strategies to encourage adherence to treatment for tuberculosis, a directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) strategy to promote adherence to ART was developed. This study examines whether the intervention was more effective in fostering adherence to ART than standard follow-up among people living with HIV in Mombasa. Researchers from the Horizons Program and the International Centre for Reproductive …

Implementing Sti/Hiv Prevention And Care Interventions For Men Who Have Sex With Men In Senegal, Amadou Moreau, Placide Tapsoba, Abdoulaye Ly, Cheikh Ibrahima Niang, Abdou Khoudia Diop

HIV and AIDS

Exploratory research conducted by the Horizons Program in 2002 revealed that men who have sex with men (MSM) in Dakar, Senegal, are particularly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Further, the stigma and discrimination suffered by many MSM result in the concealment of sexual behaviors from health-care providers, making it difficult to receive appropriate services. Finally, there is a lack of HIV-prevention campaigns geared to this group. Key stakeholders in Dakar developed and implemented an intervention to meet the STI/HIV prevention needs of MSM and address prevailing stigma that effectively serves as a barrier to care. The intervention …

Psychosocial Benefits Of A Mentoring Program For Youth-Headed Households In Rwanda, Lisanne Brown, Janet C. Rice, Neil W. Boris, Tonya R. Thurman, Leslie M. Snider, Joseph Ntaganira, Laetitia N. Nyirazinyoye, Edward Kalisa, Emmanuel Nshizirungu

HIV and AIDS

In Rwanda, the combined effects of the 1994 genocide and the AIDS pandemic have devastated the lives of children and families. More than 300,000 young people have been “left behind,” not only by parents and other caregivers who have died, but also by extended families and communities who stigmatize and fail to support them. The phenomenon of youth-headed households in the region is a relatively recent development. Despite the long history of fostering in sub-Saharan Africa, family and community safety nets are overstretched. Youth-headed households may be a legitimate coping strategy; however, children living in youth-headed households are less likely …

Supporting Volunteer Mentors: Insights From A Mentorship Program For Youth-Headed Households In Rwanda, Lisanne Brown, Tonya R. Thurman, Edward Kalisa, Janet C. Rice, Jean De Dieu Bizimana, Neil W. Boris, Leslie M. Snider, Joseph Ntaganira

HIV and AIDS

In 2004, World Vision Rwanda (WVR), in collaboration with Tulane University and the Rwanda School of Public Health, implemented a program to provide support through regular visits by an adult mentor to youth living without adult care. After completion of baseline quantitative and qualitative research, WVR implemented the program in two areas of a province in southwestern Rwanda. Over an 18-month period, 156 trained adult mentors visited and supported 441 youth-headed households. The mentor training covered key aspects of child development and skills for addressing key psychosocial issues that were identified through the baseline research. Specifically, the training addressed how …

Intergenerational Communication On Sexuality And Hiv/Aids: Exploring Feasibility Of Building Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships To Reduce Young People's Hiv Vulnerabilities, Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, Sarat Chandra Pradhan, Saraswati Swain, Aradhana Nanda, Sanjit Patnayak, Sucheta Panda, Rajendra Prasad

HIV and AIDS

In India, over one-third of all reported AIDS cases occur among people aged 15–24 years. Young people need competencies to navigate daily-life situations and engage in productive activities, and the relationships they form with adults and peers are the source of support and guidance critical to the development of their competencies. The peer-based approach is integral to sexual health and HIV-prevention programs for youth. However, in some settings, program and policy directions have been hampered by adult beliefs of what young people should be permitted to know. Recent projects show that working on changing the norms and beliefs of adults …

Patterns And Implications Of Male Migration For Hiv Prevention Strategies In Andhra Pradesh, Ravi K. Verma, Niranjan Saggurti, Madhumita Das, Saumya Ramarao, Anrudh K. Jain

HIV and AIDS

HIV is widespread in Andhra Pradesh, with high HIV prevalence among pregnant women receiving antenatal care and patients receiving treatment for sexually transmitted infections. High HIV prevalence among women indicates that the infection, rather than being restricted to groups at high risk, is present in the general population. Districts with high HIV prevalence are also destinations for large numbers of male migrants. Migration may be a major contributor to the spread of HIV in the state, however empirical evidence is limited. Furthermore, evidence is required to maximize the impact of programmatic inputs intended to contain the spread of the epidemic. …

Identifying Areas For Linkages Between Hiv And Srh For Vulnerable Populations: An Exploratory Study To Assess Female Sex Workers' Sexual And Reproductive Health Needs, Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, Sushma Mehrotra, B. Srikanthi, Sucheta Panda, Avina Sarna, A.K. Jayasree, Rajendra Prasad, Naomi Rutenberg

HIV and AIDS

Sexual and reproductive ill-health and HIV/AIDS share root causes, including poverty, gender inequality, and social marginalization of the most vulnerable populations. This has prompted the international community to call for policy and program approaches to strengthen the linkages between SRH and HIV/AIDS programs. However, most integration efforts have given priority to family planning, maternal and child health, and STI treatment and to addressing the needs of married women from the general population. Female sex workers have been targeted for HIV prevention efforts but little attention has been given to SRH-related care. To bring sex workers into the focus for SRH-HIV …

Exploring The Barriers To Accessing Care And Treatment For Hiv-Infected Children In India: A Diagnostic Study, Avina Sarna, Jaleel Ahmad, Glory Alexander, Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, Ashok Rau, Arjun Singh, Naomi Rutenberg

HIV and AIDS

Each year 27 million births take place in India. A conservative estimate of HIV prevalence of 1 percent among antenatal women translates to about 80,000 HIV-infected children being born annually. The latest figures from the National AIDS Control Organisation show that there are about 5,600 documented HIV-positive children (0–14 years), but a very small number are receiving antiretroviral therapy. The Population Council and partners conducted a qualitative study in three high-prevalence states of India to explore the facilitators and barriers to accessing care for HIV-positive children and assessed the current level of adherence to ART among children receiving treatment. A …